Central Tablelands Regional Strategic Weed Management Plan 2017-2022

Central Tablelands Regional Strategic Weed Management Plan 2017 – 2022 (Abridged Version)

Developed in partnership with the Central Tablelands Regional Weed Committee

This is a draft only. Photos courtesy of NSW Government © Central Tablelands (Abridged Version)

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Contents

Executive Summary 4

Appendix 1: Priority weeds for the Central Tablelands Local Land Services Region 7 A1.1 State level determined priority weeds 7 A1.2 Regionally determined priority weeds 12

Appendix 2: Other regional weed lists 18 A2.1 Regional alert list 18 A2.2 Regional community concern list 19

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Executive Summary The Central Tablelands Region supports a diverse and distinct mixture of landscape, livelihood, cultural and lifestyle values. Strategic and coordinated regional weed management is critical to building the sustainability of the primary industries, natural environments and local communities in the Central Tablelands region.

NSW is in the process of reforming its weed, pest and disease biosecurity legislation. Together, the NSW Biosecurity Strategy 2013-2021 and NSW Biosecurity Act 2015 (which repeals the Noxious Weeds Act 1993 and is expected to be operational in early 2017) provide a modernised and clear vision for safeguarding our primary industries, natural environments and communities from a range of biosecurity threats (pests, diseases and weeds), and the role of community-wide shared responsibility.

This Regional Strategic Weed Management Plan (the plan) is a direct response to this legislative reform. It was prepared by the Central Tablelands Regional Weed Committee on behalf of the Central Tablelands Local Land Services Board with guidance from the State Weeds Committee and Local Land Services. It covers weed risks that impact:

–– animal and plant industries, including agriculture, aquaculture, recreational and commercial fishing in our freshwater systems and forestry –– biodiversity and the natural (terrestrial and aquatic), urban and peri-urban environments –– human health, lifestyle, cultural values, recreation and social amenity –– infrastructure and service industries, including energy, transport and water supplies.

The plan sets the vision for weed management in the Central Tablelands for the five years from 2017 and outlines strategies and actions to achieve goals that focus on shared responsibility for weed management, sustainable landscapes and collaborative leadership and innovation (see Box 1).

The plan supports the reform by providing a sound basis for a co-operative and co-ordinated approach to landscape scale weed management in the Central Tablelands region. It articulates what “shared responsibility” means for the region’s communities and stakeholders, and how they will work together to identify, minimise, respond to and manage high risk weeds, both now and into the future.

The Biosecurity Act 2015 applies equally to all land in the region, whether public or private (i.e. it is tenure neutral), and as such contains a range of new regulatory tools and a General Biosecurity Duty (GBD) that support this approach to managing weed biosecurity risk. This plan outlines these new tools and how they will be applied. The tools include Prohibited Matter, Biosecurity Zones, Mandatory Measures and Control Orders.

The plan also outlines land manager obligations under the General Biosecurity Duty in the region, which for weeds is broadly defined as any person dealing with plant matter must take measures to prevent, minimise or eliminate the biosecurity risk (as far as is reasonably practicable). An expert panel has used best available evidence and an internationally-recognised risk-based prioritisation system to develop the priority weed list for this plan. Appendix 1 of this plan includes these regional priority weeds to which “recommended measures to discharge the General Biosecurity Duty” have been identified and includes state level priority weeds for the region. Appendix 2 lists other weeds identified in the prioritisation process as a further focus for weed management in the region.

Local Land Services has responsibility for implementing a number of key recommendations under the reforms which includes the formation of statutory Regional Weed Committee’s. The reforms are in response to the Natural Resource Commission NSW weeds review in 2014. The Central Tablelands Regional Weeds Committee has been established in response to this reform recommendation and is one of 11 regional committees across the state. The first term of the committee has focused on the development of this plan and the role of the committee is likely to evolve as the focus shifts to implementing this plan. Through its membership, the committee provides tenure neutral strategic planning and co-ordination of weed management activities at a regional level and is a forum for community and stakeholders in decision making. The committee works closely with the State Weeds Committee that has been established to ensure a consistent, coordinated and strategic approach to weed management in NSW.

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A range of stakeholders have played an important role in the evolution of weed management planning in the region over many years. This plan has built on past planning efforts and has gained immeasurably from the accumulated experience and expert local knowledge of committee members and their networks. Much of this experience sits on the Central Tablelands Regional Weed Committee which includes representatives from local government and county councils, NSW Department of Primary Industries, Macquarie Valley Weeds Advisory Committee, state government agencies managing crown lands (including the National Parks and Wildlife Service, Forestry Corporation of NSW, and Department of Industry - Lands), NSW Farmers, John Holland Rail, Landcare, Aboriginal land managers, environmental interests, rural landholders and Central Tablelands Local Land Services.

The Regional Weed Committee through its members will play an important role in coordinating the implementation of the plan. Stakeholders will come together to develop key processes that facilitate the delivery of:

–– shared responsibility –– standardised, tenure neutral and prioritised approaches to weed management planning, investment and delivery across the region –– strategic approaches to communicating locally relevant key messages, and engaging partners, stakeholders and the broader community –– coordinated and integrated information management and research capacity –– regional measures of performance that track the progressive impacts of our programs and interventions, investment in priorities and progress towards outcomes for shared responsibility for weed management, sustainable landscapes and collaborative leadership and innovation –– robust monitoring, reporting evaluation and improvement processes that allow for measuring the performance of this plan, the effectiveness of the region’s overall investment in weed management, and how we can improve our weed management projects, programs and policies.

Identifying local implementation roles, responsibilities and partnerships will be integral to these processes.

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Box 1: Goals and action focus for the Central Tablelands Regional Strategic Weed Management Plan

Goal 1: Responsibility for weed biosecurity is shared by all people of the Central Tablelands Actions focus on a whole of community approach to weed management, with an emphasis on: –– building community capacity –– building stronger partnerships –– fostering a shared responsibility –– increasing awareness.

Goal 2: Weed biosecurity supports profitable, productive and sustainable primary industries

Goal 3: Weed biosecurity supports healthy, diverse and connected natural environments Actions focus on weed biosecurity to protect the environment, the community and sustainable economic growth. Actions for Goals 2 and 3 have been combined as weed management efforts provide multiple outcomes across natural environments and primary industries. The emphasis is on: –– preventing new weeds from entering the region –– eradicating or containing the spread of new weeds that do establish –– managing widespread weeds where the benefits are greatest.

Goal 4: Weed biosecurity is supported by coordinated, collaborative and innovative leadership Actions focus on consistent and contemporary approaches to implementing this plan, with emphasis on: –– providing good governance and leadership to support a collaborative approach –– supporting and delivering the weed biosecurity reforms for NSW –– implementing risk based systems across all tenancies in a co-ordinated manner –– supporting innovation by embracing continuous learning, information systems, research and technology.

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Appendix 1: Priority weeds for the Central Tablelands Local Land Services Region

This appendix covers State level determined priorities (A1.1) and regionally determined priorities (A1.2).

The Biosecurity Act and regulations provide specific legal requirements for state level priority weeds (A1.1) and high risk activities. For each state level priority weed, the state objective and how this objective is achieved through specific requirements under the Biosecurity Act and regulations is covered. These specific regulatory requirements include Prohibited Matter, Biosecurity Zones, Mandatory Measures, Control Orders (see Table 2.1 and Section 4.2).

A1.2 in this appendix identifies priority weeds for the region to which “recommended measures to discharge General Biosecurity Duty” have been applied and articulates community expectations for managing these weeds in the region. These determinations are a result of the rigorous weed prioritisation and expert review process outlined in Section 4.4.

A1.1 State level determined priority weeds

All species of vascular plant (Tracheophyta) Mandatory Measure (Division 8, Clause 30) Duty to notify on importation of plants into the State: (1) A person must not import a species of vascular plant (Tracheophyta) into the State if the species is not currently present in the State unless the person has, at least 20 working days before the plant is imported into the State, notified the species of plant and its proposed location within the State. (2) The notification is to be given to an authorised officer and is to be given in accordance with Part 6. (3) A species of plant is taken not to be present in the State if the Plant Information Network System of The Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust does not show it as being present in the State. Note. See http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/. Regional Strategic Response: TBA

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State Priority Weed Objective – PREVENTION (Whole of State): The following weeds are currently not found in some parts of the state, pose significant biosecurity risk and prevention of the biosecurity risk posed by these weeds is a reasonably practical objective. Gamba Grass – Andropogon gayanus Prohibited Matter (Part 4, Biosecurity Act, 2015): A person who deals with any biosecurity matter that is Prohibited Matter throughout Pond Apple – Annona glabra the State is guilty of an offence. Bridal Veil Creeper – Asparagus declinatus Regional Strategic Response: TBA Kochia – Bassia scoparia (excluding subsp. trichophylla) Spotted Knapweed – Centaurea stoebe subsp. micranthos Black Knapweed – Centaurea xmoncktonii Siam Weed – Chromolaena odorata Koster’s Curse – Clidemia hirta Rubber Vine – Cryptostegia grandiflora Anchored Water Hyacinth – Eichhornia azurea Hawkweed – Hieracium spp (all species) Hydrocotyl/Water Pennywort – Hydrocotyle ranunculoides Lagarosiphon – Lagarosiphon major Frogbit / Spongeplant – Limnobium spp. (all species) Yellow Burrhead – Limnocharis flava Miconia – Miconia spp. (all species) Mikania Vine – Mikania micrantha Mimosa – Mimosa pigra Water Milfoil – Myriophyllum spicatum Mexican Feather Grass – Nassella tenuissima (syn. Stipa tenuissima) Broomrape – Orobanche spp. (all species except the native O. cernua var. australiana and O. minor) Water Soldier – Stratiotes aloides Witchweed – Striga spp. (except the native S. parviflora) Water Caltrop – Trapa spp. (all species) Karoo Acacia – Vachellia karroo (syn. Acacia karroo) Prickly Acacia – Vachellia nilotica (syn. Acacia nilotica) Parthenium Weed – Parthenium hysterophorus Regional Strategic Response: TBA

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State Priority Weed Objective – ERADICATION (Whole of State): The following weeds are present in limited distribution and abundance in some parts of the state. Elimination of the biosecurity risk posed by these weeds is a reasonably practical objective. SPECIES RELEVANT LEGISLATION & STRATEGIC RESPONSE

Mouse-eared Hawkweed Draft Control Order – Hieracium pilosella (Mouse-eared Hawkweed): Hieracium pilosella (a) The plant must be eradicated from the land and be fully and continuously suppressed and destroyed; and (b) The lands must be kept free of the plant after eradication; (c) A person who becomes aware of, or suspects the presence of this species is to immediately notify their local control authority; and (d) a person is not required to notify if the person knows that the required notification has already been given by another person. Regional Strategic Response: TBA

Orange Hawkweed Draft Control Order – Hieracium aurantiacum (Orange Hawkweed): Hieracium aurantiacum (a) The plant must be eradicated from the land and be fully and continuously suppressed and destroyed; and (b) The lands must be kept free of the plant after eradication; (c) A person who becomes aware of, or suspects the presence of this species is to immediately notify their local control authority; and (d) a person is not required to notify if the person knows that the required notification has already been given by another person. Regional Strategic Response: TBA

Tropical Soda Apple Draft Control Order – Solanum viarum (Tropical Soda Apple): Solanum viarum (a) The plant must be eradicated from the land and be fully and continuously suppressed and destroyed; and (b) The lands must be kept free of the plant after eradication; (c) Tropical Soda Apple seeds and propagules must not be knowingly moved by stock, machinery, soil, turf or in plant material; (d) a person who becomes aware of, or suspects the presence of this species is to immediately notify their local control authority; and (e) a person is not required to notify if the person knows that the required notification has already been given by another person. Regional Strategic Response: TBA

Boneseed Draft Control Order – Chrysanthemoides monilifera subspecies monilifera (Boneseed): Chrysanthemoides (a) The plant must be eradicated from the land and be fully and continuously suppressed and monilifera subsp monilifera destroyed; and (b) The lands must be kept free of the plant after eradication; (c) boneseed seeds and propagules must not be knowingly moved by stock, machinery, soil, turf or in plant material; (d) a person who becomes aware of, or suspects the presence of this species is to immediately notify their local control authority; and (e) a person is not required to notify if the person knows that the required notification has already been given by another person. Mandatory Measure (Division 8, Clause 29, draft Biosecurity Regulation 2016): A person must not move, import into the State or sell. Regional Strategic Response: TBA

Parkinsonia Regional Strategic Response: TBA Parkinsonia aculeata

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State Priority Weed Objective – CONTAINMENT: These weeds are widely distributed in some parts of the state. While broad scale elimination is not practicable, minimisation of the biosecurity risk posed these weeds is reasonably practicable. LAND AREA WHERE RELEVANT LEGISLATION & STRATEGIC RESPONSE REQUIREMENTS APPLY

Alligator Weed – Alternanthera philoxeroides (also listed in PREVENTION for the Central Tablelands region)

A Biosecurity Zone, to be known as the Draft Biosecurity Regulation 2016 – Part 5, Division 2 (Biosecurity Zone) Alligator Weed Biosecurity Zone, is established An owner or occupier of land in the Alligator Weed Biosecurity Zone on which for all land within the state except land in the there is the weed Alternanthera philoxeroides (Alligator Weed) must: following regions: (a) if the weed is part of a new infestation of the weed on the land, notify the (a) Greater Sydney, local control authority for the land as soon as practicable in accordance with Part (b) Hunter (but only in respect of land in 6, and the local government area of City of Lake (b) eradicate the weed or if that is not practicable destroy as much of the weed as Macquarie, City of Maitland, City of Newcastle is practicable and suppress the spread of any remaining weed. or Port Stephens). Mandatory Measure (Division 8, Clause 29, draft Biosecurity Regulation 2016): A person must not move, import into the State or sell.

Regional Strategic Response: TBA

Bitou Bush – Chrysanthemoides monilifera

A Biosecurity Zone, to be known as the Bitou Draft Biosecurity Regulation 2016 – Part 5, Division 3 (Biosecurity Zone) Bush Biosecurity Zone, is established for all An owner or occupier of land in the bitou bush Biosecurity Zone on which there is land within the State except land within 10 the weed Chrysanthemoides monilifera subsp. rotunda (Bitou Bush) must: kilometres of the mean high water mark of (a) if the weed is part of a new infestation of the weed on the land, notify the the Pacific Ocean between Cape Byron in the local control authority for the land as soon as practicable in accordance with Part north and Point Perpendicular in the South 6, and (b) eradicate the weed or if that is not practicable destroy as much of the weed as is practicable and suppress the spread of any remaining weed. Mandatory Measure (Division 8, Clause 29, draft Biosecurity Regulation 2016): A person must not move, import into the State or sell.

Regional Strategic Response: TBA

Water Hyacinth – Eichhornia crassipes (also listed in PREVENTION for the Central Tablelands region)

A Biosecurity Zone, to be known as the Water Draft Biosecurity Regulation 2016 – Part 5, Division 4 (Biosecurity Zone) Hyacinth Biosecurity Zone, is established for An owner or occupier of land in the Water Hyacinth Biosecurity Zone on which all land within the State except land in the thereis the weed Eichhornia crassipes (Water Hyacinth) must: following regions: (a) if the weed is part of a new infestation of the weed on the land, notify the (a) Greater Sydney or North Coast, local control authority for the land as soon as practicable in accordance with Part (b) North West or Northern Tablelands (but 6,and only land in those regions that is in the local (b) eradicate the weed or if that is not practicable destroy as much of the weed government area of Inverell, Moree Plains or asis practicable and suppress the spread of any remaining weed. Tenterfield), Mandatory Measure (Division 8, Clause 29, draft Biosecurity Regulation (c) Hunter (but only land in that region that 2016): A person must not move, import into the State or sell. is in the local government area of City of Cessnock, City of Lake Macquarie, City of Regional Strategic Response: TBA Maitland or Port Stephens), (d) South East (but only land in that region that is in the local government area of Eurobodalla, Kiama, City of Shellharbour, City of Shoalhaven or City of Wollongong).

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State Priority Weed Objective – ASSET PROTECTION (Whole of State): These weeds are widely distributed in some areas of the State. As Weeds of National Significance, their spread must be minimised to protect priority assets. SPECIES RELEVANT LEGISLATION & STRATEGIC RESPONSE

Madeira Vine – Anredera cordifolia Mandatory Measure (Division 8, Clause 29, draft Biosecurity Regulation 2016): A person must not move, Asparagus Weeds – Asparagus aethiopicus, A. africanus, import into the State or sell. A. asparagoides Western Cape form*, A. plumosus, A. scandens Regional Strategic Response: TBA Cat’s Claw Creeper – Dolichandra unguis-cati

Bellyache Bush – Jatropha gossypiifolia

Lantana – Lantana camara

African Boxthorn – Lycium ferocissimum (also listed in ASSET PROTECTION for the Central Tablelands region)

Chilean Needle Grass – Nassella neesiana

Serrated Tussock – Nassella trichotoma (also listed in ASSET PROTECTION for the Central Tablelands region)

Opuntia – Opuntia spp., Cylindropuntia spp., Austrocylindropuntia spp. (Excludes O. ficus- indica) (opuntioid cacti) (also listed in PREVENTION for the Central Tablelands region)

Mesquite – Prosopis spp.

Blackberry – Rubus fruticosus agg. (also listed in ASSET PROTECTION for the Central Tablelands region)

Sagittaria – Sagittaria platyphylla

Salvinia – Salvinia molesta

Fireweed – Senecio madagascariensis (also listed in CONTAINMENT for the Central Tablelands region)

Silver-leaf nightshade – Solanum elaeagnifolium (also listed in CONTAINMENT for the Central Tablelands region)

Athel Pine – Tamarix aphylla

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A1.2 Regionally determined priority weeds

Regional Priority Weed Objective – PREVENTION (Whole of Region): The following weeds are currently not found in the region, pose significant biosecurity risk and prevention of the biosecurity risk posed by these weeds is a reasonably practical objective

Burr ragweed – Ambrosia confertiflora

Cylindropuntia – Cylindropuntia spp. (naturalised in NSW) (also listed in ASSET PROTECTION for whole state)

Harrisia – Harrisia spp

Sagittaria – Sagittaria platyphylla

Horsetails – Equisetum spp.

Alligator Weed – Alternanthera philoxeroides (also listed in CONTAINMENT for whole of state)

Water Hyacinth – Eichhornia crassipes (also listed in CONTAINMENT for whole of state) OUTCOMES TO DEMONSTRATE COMPLIANCE WITH RECOMMENDED MEASURES, STRATEGIC THE GBD* RESPONSES, SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS

–– The plant should be eradicated from the land and the land kept free –– Prevent entry to the Region of the plant. –– Implement quarantine and/or hygiene protocols –– Land managers should mitigate the risk of new weeds being –– Undertake high risk sites and pathways analysis introduced to their land. to identify potential introduction areas and –– The plant should not be bought, sold, grown, carried or released into preventative options the environment –– New weed incursion response –– Notify local control authority if found –– Trigger rapid response protocol –– The following legislative requirement also applies: Mandatory Measure (Clause 29) WoNS: A person should not move, import into Supporting documents the State or sell Cylindropuntia spp. and Sagittaria platyphylla. –– Weed Action Program Mandatory Documents • Regional High Risk Pathways and –– The following legislative requirement also applies: Mandatory Sites Management Plan Measure (Division 8, Clause 29, draft Biosecurity Regulation 2016): • Incursion Plans for High Risk Weeds A person must not move, import into the State or sell Alternanthera • Regional Inspection Program philoxeroides and Eichhornia crassipes. • Rapid Response Plan –– Regional Communication Strategy –– WoNS program species profile: http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/biodiversity/ invasive/weeds/weeddetails.pl?taxon_id=20126 –– NSW WeedWise species profile: http://weeds.dpi.nsw.gov.au

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Regional Priority Weeds objective – CONTAINMENT: These weeds are widely distributed in the region. While broad scale elimination is not practicable, minimisation of the biosecurity risk posed these weeds is reasonably practicable. LAND AREA WHERE OUTCOMES TO DEMONSTRATE RECOMMENDED MEASURES, REQUIREMENTS APPLY COMPLIANCE WITH THE GBD* STRATEGIC RESPONSES, SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS*

African olive – Olea europaea subsp cuspidata

Whole of region Whole of region Recommended measures: Contain to existing infestations –– Plant should not be bought, sold, –– Destruction of all infestations, aiming at local and plantings grown, carried or released into eradication where feasible. the environment –– Implement quarantine and/or hygiene –– Land managers should mitigate the protocols. risk of new weeds being introduced to Strategic response: their land. –– Surveillance and mapping to locate all infested Whole of region excluding existing properties and maintain currency of exclusion infestations and plantings: The plant zone and objectives. should be eradicated from the land and –– Identify priority assets for targeted the land kept free of the plant. management. –– Monitor change in current distribution to Existing infestations and plantings: ensure containment of spread. Land managers should prevent spread from their land. –– High level pathways analysis to identify potential introduction areas and preventative options.

Spanish heath – Erica lusitanicaa

Whole of region Whole of region Recommended measures: Contain to existing infestations –– Plant should not be bought, sold, –– Destruction of all infestations, aiming at local and plantings grown, carried or released into the eradication where feasible. environment –– Implement quarantine and/or hygiene –– Land managers should mitigate the protocols. risk of new weeds being introduced to Strategic response: their land. –– Surveillance and mapping to locate all infested Whole of region excluding existing properties and maintain currency of exclusion infestations and plantings: The plant zone and objectives. should be eradicated from the land and –– Identify priority assets for targeted the land kept free of the plant. management. –– Monitor change in current distribution to Existing infestations and plantings: ensure containment of spread. Land managers should prevent spread from their land. –– High level pathways analysis to identify potential introduction areas and preventative options.

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Coolatai grass – Hyparrhenia hirta

Contain to Mid-Western Whole of region Recommended measures: Regional Council and Lithgow –– Plant should not be bought, sold, [Excluding Mid-Western Regional Council and LGA grown, carried or released into the Lithgow LGA] environment –– Destruction of all infestations, aiming at local –– Land managers should mitigate the eradication where feasible. risk of new weeds being introduced –– Implement quarantine and/or to their land. hygiene protocols. Whole of region excluding Strategic response: Mid-Western Regional Council and –– Surveillance and mapping to locate all infested Lithgow LGA: The plant should be properties and maintain currency of exclusion eradicated from the land and the land zone and objectives. should be keep free of the plant. –– Identify priority assets for targeted management. Mid-Western Regional Council and –– Monitor change in current distribution to Lithgow LGA: Land managers should ensure containment of spread. prevent spread from their land. –– High level pathways analysis to identify potential introduction areas and preventative options.

Fireweed – Senecio madagascariensis (Also listed in ASSET PROTECTION for Whole of State)

Contain to the Bylong Valley Whole of region Recommended measures: and Megalong Valley –– Land managers should mitigate the [Excluding Bylong Valley and Megalong Valley] risk of new weeds being introduced to –– Destruction of all infestations, aiming at local their land. eradication where feasible. –– Implement quarantine and/or hygiene The following legislative requirement protocols. also applies: Mandatory Measure (Clause 29) WoNS: A person should not Strategic response: move, import into the State or sell. –– Surveillance and mapping to locate all infested properties and maintain currency of exclusion Whole of region excluding Bylong zone and objectives. Valley and Megalong Valley: The plant –– Identify priority assets for targeted should be eradicated from the land and management. the land should be keep free of the plant. –– Monitor change in current distribution to ensure containment of spread. Bylong Valley and Megalong Valley: –– High level pathways analysis to identify Land managers should prevent spread potential introduction areas and preventative from their land. options.

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Gorse – Ulex europaeus

Contain to Bathurst, Lithgow Whole of region Recommended measures: and Oberon LGA –– Land managers should mitigate the [Excluding Bathurst, Lithgow and Oberon LGA] risk of new weeds being introduced to –– Destruction of all infestations, aiming at local their land. eradication where feasible. –– Implement quarantine and/or hygiene The following legislative requirement protocols. also applies: Mandatory Measure (Clause 29) WoNS: A person should not Strategic response: move, import into the State or sell. –– Surveillance and mapping to locate all infested properties and maintain currency of exclusion Whole of region excluding Bathurst, zone and objectives. Lithgow and Oberon LGA: The plant –– Identify priority assets for targeted should be eradicated from the land management. and the land should be keep free of –– Monitor change in current distribution to the plant. ensure containment of spread. –– High level pathways analysis to identify Bathurst, Lithgow and Oberon LGA: potential introduction areas and preventative Land managers should prevent spread options. from their land.

Honey locust – Gleditsia triacanthos

Contain to the Whole of region Recommended measures: Capertee Valley –– Plant should not be bought, sold, [Excluding Capertee Valley and urban areas] grown, carried or released into the –– Destruction of all infestations, aiming at local environment eradication where feasible. –– Land managers should mitigate the –– Implement quarantine and/or risk of new weeds being introduced to hygiene protocols. their land. Strategic response: Whole of region excluding Capertee –– Surveillance and mapping to locate all infested Valley and urban areas: The plant properties and maintain currency of exclusion should be eradicated from the land and zone and objectives. the land should be keep free of the plant. –– Identify priority assets for targeted management. Capertee Valley and urban areas: –– Monitor change in current distribution to Land managers should prevent spread ensure containment of spread. from their land. –– High level pathways analysis to identify potential introduction areas and preventative options.

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Silverleaf nightshade – Solanum elaeagnifolium (also listed in ASSET PROTECTION for whole of state)

Whole of region Whole of region Recommended measures: Contain to existing infestations –– *Land managers should mitigate the –– Implement quarantine and/or to protect currently clean risk of new weeds being introduced to hygiene protocols. their land. arable land Strategic response: –– *The following legislative requirement –– Surveillance and mapping to locate all infested also applies: Mandatory Measure properties and maintain currency of exclusion (Clause 29) WoNS: A person should not zone and objectives. move, import into the State or sell. –– Identify priority assets for targeted Whole of region excluding existing management. infestations: The plant should be –– Monitor change in current distribution eradicated from the land and the land to ensure containment of spread. should be keep free of the plant. –– High level pathways analysis to identify potential introduction areas and Existing infestations: Land managers preventative options. should prevent spread from their land.

Spiny burrgrasses – Cenchrus spinifex (syn. C. incertus) and Cenchrus longispinus

Whole of region Whole of region Recommended measures: Contain to existing infestations –– *Land should not be bought, –– Implement quarantine and/or hygiene to protect currently clean sold, grown, carried or released protocols. into the environment grazing land Strategic response: –– *Land managers should mitigate the –– Surveillance and mapping to locate all infested risk of new weeds being introduced to properties and maintain currency of exclusion their land. zone and objectives. Whole of region excluding existing –– Identify priority assets for infestations: The plant should be targeted management. eradicated from the land and the land –– Monitor change in current distribution should be keep free of the plant. to ensure containment of spread. –– High level pathways analysis to identify Existing infestations: Land managers potential introduction areas and should prevent spread from their land. preventative options.

*Note: The General Biosecurity Duty is an outcomes focused duty to prevent, eliminate or minimise the biosecurity risk posed by these weeds. While achieving the outcomes listed will demonstrate compliance with the General Biosecurity Duty this list is not exhaustive, and additional or alternative outcomes may also demonstrate compliance. *Existing infestations and plantings are defined as those on the CT LLS Existing infestations and plantings of Spiny burrgrasses (Cenchrus spinifex (syn. C. incertus) and Cenchrus longispinus), Silverleaf nightshade (Solanum elaeagnifolium #), Spanish heath (Erica lusitanica), and African olive (Olea europaea subsp cuspidate) 2017 v1 map. Affected stakeholders will be given the opportunity to contribute to this map. *Supporting documents: –– Weed Action Program Mandatory Documents • Regional High Risk Pathways and Sites Management Plan • Incursion Plans for High Risk Weeds • Regional Inspection Program • Rapid Response Plan –– Regional Communication Strategy –– WoNS program species profile: http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/invasive/weeds/weeds/lists/wons.html –– NSW WeedWise species profile: http://weeds.dpi.nsw.gov.au 16 Regional Strategic Weed Management Plan 2017 – 2022 DRAFT

Regional Priority Weeds objective – ASSET PROTECTION (Whole of Region): These weeds are widely distributed in the region. While broad scale elimination is not practicable, minimisation of the biosecurity risk posed to certain assets is reasonably practicable.

African boxthorn – Lycium ferocissimum (Protect primary production land free of African boxthorn) (also listed in ASSET PROTECTION for whole of state)

Blackberry – Rubus fruticosus aggregate spp. except cultivars # (Protect primary production land, conservation and natural environments free of Blackberry) (also listed in ASSET PROTECTION for whole of state)

Bridal creeper – Asparagus asparagoides (Protect conservation and natural environments free of Bridal creeper)

Cape Broom – Genista monspessulana (Protect conservation and natural environments free of Cape broom)

Scotch broom/English broom – Cytisus scoparius subsp. scoparius (Protect conservation and natural environments free of Scotch broom/English broom)

Serrated tussock – Nassella trichotoma (Protect production land, conservation and natural environments free of Serrated tussock) (also listed in ASSET PROTECTION for whole of state)

Green cestrum – Cestrum parqui (Contain within riparian areas to protect grazing land free of Green cestrum)

Mother-of-millions – Bryophyllum spp.* (Protect conservation, natural environments and grazing land free of Mother-of-millions)

Ox-eye daisy – Leucanthemum vulgare* (Protect conservation, natural environments and primary production land free of Ox-eye daisy)

St John’s wort – Hypericum perforatum* (Protect grazing land free of St John’s wort)

Tiger pear – Opuntia aurantiaca* (Protect un-improved grazing land free of Tiger pear)

Tutsan – Hypericum androsaemum* (Protect conservation, natural environments and grazing land free of Tutsan) OUTCOMES TO DEMONSTRATE COMPLIANCE WITH RECOMMENDED MEASURES, STRATEGIC THE GBD* RESPONSES, SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS

–– Land managers should mitigate spread from their land. –– Land managers should implement best practice –– Land managers should mitigate the risk of new weeds being measures that inhibit spread. introduced to their land. –– Should not allow to spread from cultivated plants (if grown) Cestrum parqui. –– The following legislative requirement also applies: Mandatory Measure (Clause 29) WoNS: A person should not move, import into the State or sell. –– *Plant should not be bought, sold, grown, carried or released into the environment

17 Central Tablelands (Abridged Version)

Appendix 2: Other regional weed lists

A2.1 Regional alert list Species that are high risk, have suitable habitat in the region, though currently have no identified pathway for arrival

Regional Strategic Response: –– identify key target audience –– develop species information summary (include ID/habitat preferences/pathways) for field based weed management professionals –– trigger rapid response protocol for any sightings –– provide annual status updates on the distribution and pathways of these species –– escalate any species that develop a high risk pathway to Schedule 4 (PREVENTION).

ALERT LIST FOR THE CENTRAL TABLELANDS LOCAL LAND SERVICES REGION COMMON NAME SCIENTIFIC NAME Cabomba Cabomba spp (except C.furcata) Cats Claw creeper Dolichandra unguis-cati Chinese violet Asystasia gangetica subsp. Micrantha Espartillo Amelichloa brachychaeta; A.caudata Kidneyleaf Mudplantain Heteranthera reniformis Long-leaf willow primrose Ludwigia longifolia Madeira vine Anredera cordifolia Salvinia Salvinia molesta Senegal tea plant Gymnocoronis spilanthoides Water lettuce Pistia stratiotes

18 Regional Strategic Weed Management Plan 2017 – 2022 DRAFT

A2.2 Regional community concern list Species that are high priority for a number of current programs, though not feasible to contain or eradicate

Regional Strategic Response: –– work within existing widespread weed programs for strategic asset protection –– prioritise the application of the GBD to these species –– work with industry and community to develop restrictions on sale and trade.

COMMUNITY CONCERN LIST FOR THE CENTRAL TABLELANDS LOCAL LAND SERVICES REGION COMMON NAME SCIENTIFIC NAME African lovegrass Eragrostis curvula Bathurst burr Xanthium spinosum Blue heliotrope Heliotropium amplexicaule Chilean needle grass Nassella neesiana African marigold Cineraria lyratiformis Common prickly pear Opuntia stricta Illyrian thistles and Nodding thistle Carduus nutans, Onoporum acanthium, O. illyricum, O. acaulon Noogoora burr Xanthium occidentale Privet (Narrow and Broad-leaf) Ligustrum sinense, Ligustrum lucidum Rhus tree Toxicodendron succedaneum Sycamore maple Acer pseudoplanatus Willows Salix spp. Sweet briar Rosa rubiginosa

19 Regional Strategic Weed Management Plan 2017 – 2022